Apparatus for stereoscopic cinematography



Nov.,1,193s. TMQHARVEY I 1 2,135,049

APPARATUS FOR STEREOS C OF I C C I NEMA'I'OGRAPHY Filed March 10, 1937 3sh et -sh t 1 \NYENTOR 7&0 Mama. lam-yer BYl Nov. 1, 1938. T. M. HARVEY2,135,049

APPARATUS FOR STEREOSCOPIC CINEMATOGRAPHY Filed Maren-1o, 1937 3Shets-Sheet 2 IINVENTORQ T50 Mnxwau Mom/Er H ATTORNEYS NOV. 1, 1938. TEY 2,135,049

APPARATUS FOR S TEREO SYCOPIC CINEMATOGRAPHY Filed March 10, 1937 aSheets-Sheet s '6 V INVENTOR T50 MnxiyvnL fl/mvsr 'y/s ArroxwsvsPatented Nov. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FORSTEREOSCOPIC CINEMATOGRAPHY Ted Maxwell Harvey, London, EnglandApplication March 10, 1937, Serial No. 129,992 In Great Britain October2, 1936 4 Claims. (Cl. 88--16.6)

This invention is for improvements in or relat- Figure 2 is a sectionalview on the line 2-2 of ing to stereoscopic cinematography and has forFigure 1 showing also a camera and a part of its one of its objects toenable more realistic results tripod on which the apparatus according tothe to be obtained than has heretofore been found present invention isassembled in operative posi- 5 possible. tion;

Another object of the present invention is to Figure 3 is an enlargedsectional view on the provide for taking a stereoscopic cinematographline 33 of Figure 1; by reflecting the image of the object to the lensFigure 4 is a rear view of the parts shown in by a reflector systemincluding a reflector which Figure 3;

i :is located out of the longitudinal axis of the Figure 5 is avlewcorresponding to Figure l camera lens and is so directed as to reflectan but showing a modified construction, and image of the object asviewed from said displaced Figure 6 is a detail view in section on theline position, and translating the said reflector about 6-6 of Figure 5.the said axis during the exposure while main- Like reference numeralsindicate like parts taining the continuity of reflection of the imagethroughout the drawings. 15- from the object towards the lens. It willbe ap- Referring fi y to Figures 1 t0 t preciated that as the result ofcarrying out this struction therein illustrated comprises a casingmethod the camera lens and therefore the sensihaving a rim l0 whereofthe front is completely tive film will receive images of the objecttaken open and the back has a strip ll extending diafrom a succession ofpositions displaced from the metrically across the casing. An adjustable20 longitudinal axis of the .lens, and it will be found screeningextension for the front of the casing is that pictures taken accordingto the present inshown at P2. The back strip H is provided with ventionnot only show the'depth of any individual a wa yd bracket by which theobject photographed but also show the distance apparatus can bemouhtedOn a camera p d between that object and other objects in the A camera isshown at I5. 25 picture as measured in the general direction away Insidethe easing the hack Strip l Carries the from the camera. In other words,a vry'close internal half It of an anti-friction bearing, theapproximation is obtained to the stereoscopic external half ll of whichis ca i y S u effect of the two eyes of an'observer. extending from alight wheel l9. Supported in- 0 A further object of the invention is toprovide side the casing is a m tor 20 of any ui ab e char- 80apparatus'comprisinga reflectorsy'stem'embodyacter whereof the shaft 2!carries a pulley 22 ing a reflector to be located obliquely across thewhich driv the Wheel y a l longitudinal axis of the camera lens'andfacing As already exp a image of e O j the lens, and a second reflectorlocated out of to be ph g p is reflected t0 the came a the saidlongitudinal axis and facing the first lens by a refle y T is comprisesa 35 reflector and also facing the object to be photoreflector 24located obliquely across the n graphed, means for adjusting the settingof the tudinal axis of the camera lens and facing the second reflectorangularly with respect to the lens and a-second reflector 25 located outof the said axis and means for mounting the reflector g t d l a of thecamera lens and facing system so that it can be rotated or oscillated asthe reflector 24 and also facing th Object to be 40 a unit about thesaid axis. As the reflector sysph t aphed- The reflector 24 is a i y thtem is moved as a unit it will be appreciated that wheel l9 by means ofa block 2 6 which is such continuity of reflection of the image from thethat the surface of the reflector 24 lies at an angle object towards thelens is maintained. of to the longitudinal axis of the camera 45 For amore complete understanding of the lens. This is a convenient angle formost com 45 invention there will now be described, by way of ditions butother angles y be Chosen, if des red, I example only and with referenceto the accomand instead of the fixed supp 26 an adjustpanying drawings,certain constructional forms able supp y be p y if e redof apparatusaccording to the invention. It is e efl 25 is pp d 0n the wheel I9 to beunderstood, however, that the invention is by an adjustable three-poiuspension. One 5 not restricted to the precise constructional details othese suspehsieh Peints Comprises a p 1 t, forth, carried on the back ofthe reflector and receiving I the drawingsthe ball-shaped end of ascrewthreaded rod 28 Figure l is a front view of one construction ofwhich screws into the rim of the wheel l9 and apparatus according to theinvention; has a knurled head 29. The other two suspen- 55 sion pointsare like each other but are different from the one just described. Eachof the said other two suspension points comprises a standard 30projecting rearwardly from one of the spokes of the wheel IS. The end ofthe standard is bored and screwthreaded at 3| to receive the screwed end32 of a rod which is formed with a ball 33 and a knurled head 34. Theball 33 is encircled by a split cup 35 situated at the end of a rod 36which reaches right across the back of the reflector 25. Elongated clips31 secure the rod 36 to the reflector 25 but permit of relative movementconsequent upon adjustment of the suspension points. This three-pointsuspen sion permits the reflector 25 to be angularly adjustable in everydirection and in this way the proper setting of the reflectors 24 and 25in relation to each other can be chosen, say, by manipulating the twoscrewed rods 32 and the desired setting of the reflector 25 with respectto the object to be viewed can be obtained by manipulating the screwedrod 28. To assist in the adjustmentthe reflector 25 is shown as beingprovided with a graduated scale 38 which can be read in conjunction witha pointer 39 on the wheel l9. This will indicate more or less exactlythe setting required for an object at a specified distance from theobserver.

Prisms or ordinary glass mirrors are not employed as the reflectorsbecause owing to the fact that the light has to pass through thethickness of the glass in reaching and leaving the reflecting surfacethe image is apt to be blurred or duplicated or triplicated. In carryingout the invention the reflecting surface of the reflectors is thatsurface which faces the object in the one case and that surface whichfaces the lens in the other case. For instance, the reflectors may bemade of glass, metal, porcelain or the like with a silvered surfacedirected as just stated. In such reflectors sharp images of the objectsare readily obtainable.

The construction shown in Figures 1 to 4 is one in which the wheel I9 iscontinuously rotated by the motor 20. A convenient speed for ordinarycinematograph conditions, namely when twentyfour exposures are beingmade per second, is one revolution of the wheel IS in thirty secondswhen the reflector 25 is at a distance of thirteen inches from thelongitudinal axis of the camera lens, but if part of the object is nearto the camera and the background is distant it may be advisable to drivethe wheel l9 at a slower speed. Various speeds may, of course, be chosenaccording to circumstances. To promote smoothness of movement of thewheel I! balance weights 40 are shown attached to the spokes, they beingadjustable to and from the axis of the wheel.

To set the apparatus for use the operator should see an image of theobject in the reflector 24 and also by looking past the latter through asighting aperture 50 in the back strip H see the actual object. Heshould adjust the setting of the reflector 25 until the image and theobject appear to coincide, this being a kind of focussing operation.During and by virtue of his observations the operator is able to eflectthe necessary adjustment of the reflector 25 to set the apparatus foruse. To assist in this, use may be made of the aforesaid graduated scale33.

Instead of continuously rotating the wheel i9 it may be oscillated, asuitable construction for this purpose being shown in Figures 5 and 6.In this construction the back strip H of the casing carries a bracket 41on which is supported a motor 42 of any suitable character which drivesa disc 43 through a reduction gear 44. The forward face of the disc 43is formed with a heartshaped cam groove 45 with which there engages aroller carried on one end of a lever 46, the other end of which lever isforked at 41 to embrace a roller 48 carried on one of the spokes of thewheel IS. The lever 46 is pivoted on a bracket 49 carried by the backstrip II. This particular cam mechanism will impart to the wheel IS anoscillation through about and will ensure that the speed of movement isregular, but any other desired angle of oscillation may be chosen andany suitable mechanism employed for the purpose. 1

Instead of translating the reflector system about the longitudinal axisof the camera lens by power means, the latter may be omitted and thetranslation may be effected by hand, the operator merely having to passhis hand into the casing beside the back strip II and grasp one of thespokes or the rim of the wheel i9.

It will be appreciated that the actual construction of the apparatus canbe varied in wide limits without departing from the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for use in taking a stereoscopic cinematograph, comprisinga casing, a bearing therein, a rotary framework supported in saidbearing and located inside said casing, an external bracket on saidcasing whereby the latter may be carried on a camera support in such aposition that the axis of rotation of the framework coincides with thelongitudinal axis of the camera lens, a reflector on said framework insuch a setting that it is located obliquely across .the said axis andfacing the lens, a second reflector on said framework in such a settingthat it is located out of the said axis and facing the first reflectorand also facing the object to be photographed, the reflecting surfacesof which first and second reflectors are those surfaces which face thelens in the case of the first reflector and face the object in the caseof the second reflector, so that the light does not pass through thebody of the reflectors, and means for adjusting the setting of thesecond reflector angularly with respect to said axis.

2. Apparatus for use in taking a stereoscopic cinematograph, comprisinga casing, a bearing therein, a rotary framework supported in saidbearing and located inside said casing, an external bracket on saidcasing whereby the latter may be carried on a camera support in such aposition that the axis of rotation of the framework coincides with thelongitudinal axis of the camera lens, a reflector on said framework insuch a setting that it is located obliquely across the said axis andfacing the lens, a second reflector on said framework in such a settingthat it is located out of the said axis and facing the first reflectorand also facing the object to be photographed, the reflecting surfacesof which first and second reflectors are those surfaces which face thelens in the case of the first reflector and face the object in the caseof the second reflector, so that the light does not pass through thebody of the reflectors, means for adjusting the setting of the secondreflector angularly with respect to said axis, and power means carriedby said casing for rotating the framework in the casing;

3. Apparatus for use in taking a stereoscopic cinematograph,comprising acasing, a bearing therein, a rotary framework supported in said bearingand located inside said casins, an external bracket on said casingwhereby the latter may be carried on a camera support in such a positionthat the axis of rotation of the frame-' work coincides with thelongitudinal axis the camera lens, at reflector on said framework insuch a. setting that it is located obliquely across the said axis andfacing the lens, 9, second reflector on said l'ramework in such asetting that it is located out of the said axis and facing the firstreflector and also facing the object to be photographed, the reflectingsurfaces of which first and seccnol reflectors are those surfaces whichface the lens in the ease oi the first reiieotor end face the object inthe case of the second reflector, so that the light does not passthroughthe body oi the reflectors, means ior adjusting the setting ofthe second reflector angular-1y with respect to said axis, and powermeans carried by said casing for oscillating the framework in the casingthrough an angle of 80 about the longitudinal axis of the camera lens.

4. Apparatus for use in taking a stereoscopic cinematograph, comprisinga reflector system embodying s reflector to be located obiiouely acrossthe longitudinal axis of the camera lens and facing the lens, a secondreflector located out of the said longitudinal axis and facing the firstreflector and also facing the object to be photographed, the reflectingsurfaces of which first and second reflectors are those surfaces whichface the lens in the case of the first reficctor and face the object inthe case of the second reflector, so that the light does not passthrough the horiy of the reflectors, means for adjusting the setting ofthe second reflector angularly with respect to the said axis and meansfor incoming the reflector system so that it can he transisteoirotatively as e unit about the said axis, which reflector systemmounting is provided with a sighting aperture adjacent to the firstreflector so that the operator can'see an image of the object in thefirst reflector and also by looking post the latter through the sightinsaperture in the said mounting can see the actual object and during andby virtue of these observations is able to efiect the necessaryadjustment of the second reflector to set the apps ratus for use.

